Endorsement

Endorsement

Definition

An insurance policy form that either changes or adds to the provisions included in one or more other forms used to construct the policy, such as the declarations page or the coverage form. Insurance policy endorsements may serve any number of functions, including broadening the scope of coverage, limiting or restricting the scope of coverage, clarifying the application of coverage to some unique loss exposure, adding other parties as insureds, or adding locations to the policy. They often effect these changes by modifying the existing insuring agreement, policy definitions, exclusions, or conditions in the coverage form or adding additional information, such as insured locations, to the declarations page.

Related Terms

A form that is attached to a surety or fidelity bond that alters the provisions of the bond form in some manner. A rider is the surety and fidelity equivalent of an insurance policy endorsement, and though not common, insurance endorsements are sometimes called riders.

One of the primary standardized insurance forms used to construct an insurance contract. The coverage form generally contains the insuring agreement, coverage conditions, exclusions, and policy definitions.

In broad terms, the entire printed insurance contract. Generally, an insurance
policy is assembled with a combination of various standard forms, including a
declarations page, coverage form, and endorsements. Sometimes a causes of loss
form is also required. Together these forms delineate the coverage term, the
insurance policy limits, the grant of coverage, exclusions and other
limitations of coverage, and the duties and responsibilities of the insured in
the event of a loss.

The front page (or pages) of a policy that specifies the named insured,
address, policy period, location of premises, policy limits, and other key
information that varies from insured to insured. The declarations page is also
known as the information page. Often informally referred to as the
"dec" or "dec page."